Combined nail and ear cleaner



(No Model.) A

W. A. BERNARD.

COMBINEDv NAIL AND BAR CLEANER. No. 324,001.. e Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

llIIIIIIlllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII y "ii" ,-mmuuuumlllllln."ugymllllhllllllllll UNITED STATES iPATENT' OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD, OF DANVILLE, VIRGINIA.

kCOMBINED NAIL AND EAR CLEANER.

SPECIFICIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,001, dated August 11,1885.

Application filed May 21, 1884.

(No model.)

drawings.

My invention relates to a combined pockettool; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically ff pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a peculiar combination of tools-such as nail or thread cutters, nail-files, ear-spoon, a cord or nail knife, a shoe-buttoner, an untying-hook, and a needle-threader, and the lik e-Y-into such small and compact form as that the whole may be readily carried in the pocket, and the peculiar tools are arranged to be of importance to either seX.

This invention contemplates more than the mere collocation of several tools or utensils into a compact form. It seeks to give to each utensil or tool an additional function--a function that arises by reason of the arrangement ot' parts over and above the legitimate fune' tion of the tool itself-as, for instance, I make the shoe-bnttoner serve also as an operatinglever for the cutters, and the ear-spoon serve as a spring-guide for the needle when the needle-threader is in service.

The device as a whole is a convenient adjunct to a ladyswork-hasket, to a toilet-set, or to the paraphernalia of a4 desk or otiice. It is of much importance as a pocket utensil for the person of leisure, whether man or woman, and is valuable to artisan, mechanic, seamstress, or professor.

rlhe invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings,gwhich form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device, showing the shoe-buttoner and 'knife-blade folded out of use. Fig. 2 is a reverse or bottom plan view showing the earspoon and hook in the same position. Fig. 3 is a side elevabroken away to show the internal constructions. Fig. 4t is a side elevation showing the button-hook arranged to serve as a lever for the cutters, the dotted lines indicating the operation. Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the arrangement of parts for the needle-threader with the earspoon in elevation acting as a spring-guide to hold the needle in its transverse slot-guide. Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the relation of the spoon and its seat with the spring-arm, and showing the means for holding said spoon open or closed; and Fig. 7 is a perspective end view showing the form of the cutters and the construction of the body of the ear-spoon and base.

For convenience, the uses and operation of the several parts will` be given as the said parts are described by letter.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the base or body, and B the spring-arm rigidly secured thereto. These parts bear upon each other for about one third of their area, thus leaving a portion of the arm B to be sprung inward at will. The body A has a curved cutting-edge, G', upon one end, andthe corresponding end of the spring-arm B has a straight cutting-edge, G, which edges, when brought together by the arm B being sprung toward the base A, serve ,to give a draw-cut upon the finger-nail, or

whatever else it is desired to operate upon. The side edges of the base are formed into a tile, S, and the body A is cutaway at b in such manner as to afford room for the hook D to be folded upon the arm B, and the hook and body at this point approximate the general contour of the arm B.

The hook D is hinged or pivoted at d, and has a bearing-shoulder, cl,which abuts against the stop shoulder d2, formed on the base A, when the said hook is open for use; and the said base is cut away or recessed at b to allow the nail of the operator to be inserted to open the'hook. This hook is of great value, as for untyng knots, pulling a cork, cleaning the finger-nails, die., and is a valuable adjunct to the complete device. When out of use, it folds neatly out of the way, and, being of the same thickness as the base, folds closely against the same.

In the bottom surface of the base A is formed IOO a transverse guide-slot, H, from the termination of which a hole, l1, connects with a conical recess, L, formed in both base and arm at this point.

Pivoted atc to base A is an ear-spoon, C, the shank of which has an inherent spring action, and the spoon end of this device is adapted to extend across the slot H. Thus when the spoon is closed out of use it forms a spring-guide, under which a needle may be inserted, the spoon springing to allow different-sized needles to be manipulated. The eye of a needle being turned until it registers with the hole h, a thread end may be inserted into the recess h', and the inclined sides will guide it through the needle-eye, the spoon meanwhile serving to hold the needle properly positioned for such operation. This double flinction of the spoon in this device makes it especially important to seainstresses and housewives.

The ear-spoon has upon its under surface a longitudinal ridge or projection, c2, which when the spoon is open or closed operates in a longitudinal slot, b, formed in the base A to lock the said spoon against any ordinary displacement; but the spoon in being opened or closed by force will cause the said projection to ride up the sides ofthe slot b3, as the spring of the arm B allows it, and the said spoon may be turned until the projection again registers with the slot, when it will snap into place, and the parts be held thus conditioned by the constant force of the springarm B. This force is exerted through the stud I, which stud is headed upon the outside of the spoon, and passes loosely through both base and arm, its upper end having a pivotal connectiomf, with the button-hook F. This button-hook F has a fulcrum-shoulder,

j", and the pivot f is so arranged that the said hook may be turned until said shoulder f rests upon the outer face ofthe arm B, the said arm springing in for that purpose. This position is indicated in Fig. 4:, where the button-hook may be employed as a lever for working the cutting-jaws G G. Thus the spring-arm B not only serves to force the cutting-edges apart, but by its connections to lock the earspoon in either an open or closed position. lt also holds the button-hook in the lever position shown in Fig. et, and in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. In the latter position it is locked from accidental displacement by its hook iitting over a stud, e, which stud also serves as the pivot of a knife-blade, E.

The arm B is bent, as shown at b4, at the junction of its spring-arm with the bearing position, and this forni provides for the knifeblade E to occupy the space underthe buttonhook when the same is closed, the knife-blade lying under the hook end, and its pivot e serving as a lock-stop for said hook.

The arm B has a bearing-stud, e2, against which the shoulder e of the blade abuts when the same is in use, the same stud acting as an stance, very slight changes in the construction of some ofthe parts might adapt them to wider uses, and other parts having different.

uses may be added. The button-hook maybe replaced bya corkscrew, and the cutti 11g-edges G and G may be made pinchers or tweezers.

I attach importance to the multiplicity of functions imparted to the arrangement-*as the spring of the arm B serving to hold the spoon locked in either an open or closed position,to retract the cutting-jaw, and to hold the hook F in either of the two positions; or the spoon acting to hold different sized needles in the threading device, as well as serving its legitimate function as a spoon; or the knife-blade pivot acting as a lock-stop to the button-hook; or the button-hook acting additionally as a lever for the cutters.

The cutting-edges may be readily adjusted to each other by means of the screw which secures the parts A B together, the said screw passing through an elongated slot in the part B.

What I claim as new isl. The combination of the base A, springarm B, having conical recess h', and slot H, as shown, and the spoon C, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the base A, springarm B, as described, the spoon C, having ridge c2, and the stud I, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the arm B, bent at b4, and the blade E, with the pivot e and hook F, the said pivot serving as a lock-stop for said hook, as set forth.

4. The combination of the part A, cutaway at b, and having recess b', the hook D, having shoulder d', and the arm B, as set forth.

5. The combination of the base A, having slot b3 and cutter G', the spring-arm B, having cutter G, the spoon C, having ridge c2, the stud I, and the button-hook F, as and for the purposes set forth.

G. The combination of the base A, having les S, slot H, and cutter G', the arm B, havingvcutter G, the spoon C, having ridge c, the stud I, hook F, pivot f, blade E, and pivot e, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM A. BERNARD.`

Witnesses:

B. Lnwis BLAcKFoRD, B. O. TODHUNTER.

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